Does Honey Work to Prevent Allergies?

If you suffer from allergies, you are no doubt tired of living with them, and you have probably tried just about everything you can think of to get rid of them. The latest “buzz” says that honey may be the answer for people who suffer from allergies – but is this true?

Health effects of honey?

Many people swear that honey works to stop coughing, and some researchers believe that it has anti-inflammatory effects. The theory that it may help with allergies arose from the thinking that honey has pollen in it, and pollen is what causes many allergies. Some believe that eating honey that is locally grown, and exposing yourself to pollen that is in the area where you live, will make you less sensitive to whatever you are allergic to and eventually put an end to your allergies once and for all.

This may sound reasonable, but there are actually some problems with this theory. For one thing, there is very little pollen in honey. For another, the honey you eat may not even have the pollens in it that you are allergic to – the majority of seasonal allergies are caused by pollen that comes from grasses, trees, and weeds, not the pollen collected by bees from flowers.

Health risks of honey

Something else to be aware of is that if you buy unprocessed honey from your local farmer’s market, it may have some things in it that are usually removed when honey is processed, such as bacteria and mold spores. Also, you should never give honey to children younger than a year old because of the risk of infant botulism, a kind of food poisoning that is very rare but also very serious.

Honey is great for soothing sore throats (besides being an excellent addition to hot tea) and can make you feel a little better just because it is so delicious. However, if you find that you need a little something more than honey to help you find allergy relief, call Lakeside Allergy Ear Nose and Throat. Call (972) 771-5443 for an appointment today at the Rockwall and Forney office.